Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights and Tadamon! bring you a panel on the colonial roots of administrative detention in Canada and Israel.

Administrative detention is a practice with colonial roots, where we find the similarity between the two colonial entities that are Israel and Canada. In both Israel and Canada, the manner in which bodies are policed leads to practices of detention, mass incarceration, systemic racism, apartheid, and genocide of indigenous peoples and marginalized populations. It is therefore a question of noting the similarities between these two colonial entities, following an anti-abolitionist, anti-colonialist, anti-racist, anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist approach.

Imad Temeiza is the co-founder and former elected leader of the Palestinian Postal Service Workers’ Union (PPSWU). He is currently the PPSWU International Relations Representative. Imad will discuss the multiple levels of oppression that Palestinian workers face in the Palestinian Territories occupied by Israel in 1967, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

Workers’ struggle and resistance will be situated in the context of the failed Oslo Peace Process which began in the early 1990’s, and led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority. Contrary to the goal of creating a two-state solution, this process led to a system of Apartheid, as prominently witnessed throughout the Territories, in cities such as Hebron.

A call by Egypt Solidarity on behalf of Egyptian activists who are deeply involved with mobilizing solidarity campaigns for political prisoners both inside and outside Egypt, including relatives and friends of detainees.

Stop repression of protests – Free political prisoners- Fair trials for all – End abuse and torture – No executions

On 21 June 2014 a small group of demonstrators approached Egypt’s presidential palace. Their demonstration was the first to challenge the repressive anti-protest laws since Abdelfattah Al-Sisi had been sworn in after victory in the presidential elections. Armed thugs and police attacked their peaceful march, and 23 people were arrested and later sentenced to years in jail, simply for exercising their rights to assembly and free expression. Al-Sisi, whose election was hailed by Western leaders as a step forward in Egypt’s “transition”, crushed their protest.

A year later, we are calling for international solidarity with all Egyptian political prisoners, in the hope that highlighting this one case will help build a movement campaigning for justice for the tens of thousands jailed by the military regime.

In January 2011, protesters in Egypt inspired the world with their bravery and determination in the fight for democracy and better life. Today, many of those brave protestors have been either killed or jailed. At the same time, Mubarak and his supporters, including the police generals responsible for killing protesters and corruption, have been set free.

In July 2013, after a popular uprising against then-president Mohamed Morsi, the military overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood’s Morsi, who had been elected president the previous year. Since then, more than 3000 Egyptian citizens have been killed, and no-one has been held accountable. More than 40,000 were arrested during the first year of the military regime. Those arrested have not received a fair trial and many had no access to legal procedures at all. Military and civilian courts in Egypt have issued death sentences against some of the leaders and hundreds of alleged supporters of Muslim Brotherhood, including the ousted president Mohamed Morsi. Human rights groups have condemned these trials as completely unfair.

Revolutionary activists who had opposed Morsi’s regime, and taken to the streets in defiance of the Brotherhood, are also being arrested, abused and jailed. Activists such as Ahmed Douma, who played a leading role in the 2011 revolution have received life sentences. Under a draconian anti-protest law many youth have been jailed. Everything associated with the January revolution of 2011 is now a target in Egypt.

Meanwhile terrorist attacks are escalating, and the current regime has used the discourse of the war on terror to justify a backlash against everything related to civil liberties and human rights. Egypt does not have a parliament. The president holds both legislative and executive power. And parliamentary elections have been delayed yet again.

The president has used this power to issue an enormous number of laws to expand state repression. In 2014, about 90 Egyptian citizens were tortured to death in police stations, without anyone being held accountable or even proper legal investigations. According to the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, 61 journalists have been jailed because of their writing or their work over the last two years in Egypt. Shooting live ammunition at protesters has been normalized.

Al-Sisi’s regime is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries from the Gulf. Western regimes which recently paid lip service to support for human rights and democracy are now sending billions of dollars in military and economic aid, as well as selling arms and surveillance technologies and to the repressive regime in Egypt.

We call for international solidarity with Egyptian political prisoners on June 20-21, 2015.
• Stop repression of protests
• Free political prisoners
• Fair trials for all
• End abuse and torture
• No executions

After showings at Kahwa Café (Summer 2014) and Café Aquin (Fall 2014), the photo exhibition “Uprising and Uprooted: refugees in the Syrian struggle in photo and image”, is moving to Café L’Artère for a two-month showing commencing 1 March. Presented by Tadamon!, the exhibit’s third Montreal run will include a feature event: a presentation by Yasser Munif, Assistant Professor in the Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, Emerson College, and co-founder of the Global Campaign of Solidarity with the Syrian Revolution on “The Syrian Revolt: Grassroots Organizing and Everyday Resistance” with special guest Jessica Attar Adam, Montreal photogprapher and filmmaker who will speak about her photographic work on northern Syria, on display as part of the exhibit.

Israel’s attack on Gaza continues. This newest assault began July 8 with air and naval bombardments and has since led to a ground invasion, leaving at least 546 dead and over 3000 injured.
On Sunday, July 20, at least 97 Gaza residents were killed by IDF shelling in the middle of night, breaking a Red Cross mediated ceasefire. 60 of the dead are from a single neighbourhood, Shuja’iya; according to current reports, most of the injured are children. As of Monday, the rate and severity of Israel’s attacks show no signs of letting up.

Nowhere in Gaza is safe: bombings are targeting apartment blocks, factories, local shops, and the already distressed infrastructure in one of the most densely populated territories in the world. There is no escaping from Israel’s aggression: all border crossings are closed and there is nowhere for the people of Gaza to move to safety.

The Canadian government has effectively supported these killings, cheering Israel on with the complicity of the Liberals and the NDP.

As Israeli bombs continue to drop on Gaza, let’s join together on the streets of Montreal in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Join us as we list the names of victims at a candle-lit vigil and demonstrate in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Ten years ago, on July 9th 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a historic advisory opinion, deeming Israel’s apartheid wall illegal. At the time, the Court called for the wall to be dismantled, for Palestinian residents to be compensated, and for Israeli compliance to be enforced by the International community. One year later, Palestinian civil society launched an appeal to Boycott, Divest and Sanction the Israeli state until it complied with international law.

One decade later, settlements have expanded, land has been expropriated, and wall construction has continued with impunity. If completed, the Wall will stretch more than 800 km, annexing an estimated 46% of the West Bank. Already the effects of the Wall have been devastating, as it has cut off farmers from their lands, workers from their jobs, students from their campuses and communities from each other.

On July 9, 2004, at the behest of the UN General Assembly, the ICJ, legal arm of the United Nations, indeed issued an Advisory opinion saying “the construction of the wall (by occupying power Israel), and its associated régime (imposed on the Palestinians), are contrary to international law”.

The ICJ Advisory deemed that “Israel cannot rely on a right of self-defense or on a state of necessity to preclude the wrongfulness of the construction of the wall”.

Its ruling called for the barrier to be removed, for residents to be compensated, and for UN member States, including Canada, to act to obtain Israel’s compliance with the Fourth Geneva Convention (GCIV) – of which Canada is a signatory.

Tadamon! Montreal invites you to visit the photo exhibition “Uprising and Uprooted: refugees in the Syrian struggle in photo and image”. The exhibit aims to bring to wider public attention the circumstance of the many millions of persons who have sought refuge outside Syria or have been displaced inside Syria and, also, to raise funds to help those in need. Funds will go directly to those in immediate need in refugee camps and/or inside Syria. Donations can be made at the exhibition site or can be made by contacted Tadamon! at 514-664-1036 or info@tadamon.ca

Join Tadamon! for the vernissage of the photo exhibition “Uprising and Uprooted: refugees in the Syrian struggle in photo and image”. The evening will include a presentation of the photos, discussions and musical performances.

The popular uprising in Syria for liberation and dignity that broke out in March 2011, has, since the beginning, been met with a brutal regime response that has known no limits. The consequences of the Syrian regime’s response have been devastating: destruction of homes, urban neighbourhoods and infrastructure; deepening social divisions that have taken the form of sometimes violent, armed confrontation; deaths of civilians reaching over 150,000 persons; widening fear and distrust; countless injured; the uprooting of millions. In the face and in the aftermath of regime bombardment, siege, atrocity and aggression millions have taken flight and sought refuge within Syria, in neighbouring states and in states beyond the region.